Preference for Judging Distance?

[Big_M]

GPS, rangefinder, course markings? What would you prefer?

I just purchased an i-golf caddieII...

[hawkeye]

i prefer course markings - makes the game fair for everyone.

what are the rulings on using rangefinders and/or GPS? i've read variations on this site and in a UK magazine it said that rangefinders were allowed.

[marpr]

GPS, rangefinder, course markings? What would you prefer?

i like the ideal of everyone using course markings.

but for practice and for better judging distances by site > therefore playing naturally (in comps for example) > i like the thought of range finders.

[Bowker]

I prefer to use course marking simply because I feel they are more accurate.

I have played with people that use rangefinders and I have seen them get the distance wrong by over 30 yds.

Maybe they have newer, better ones now though. I have never tried one personally.

What do the new rules say about rangefinders? Anyone know?

[BottomoftheCup]

Just purchased a Bushnell Rangefinder actually, never thought I would. It provides more help and information than you'd think.

[Shindig]

I use course markings, especially now that I play a course with accurate markings. One of my buddies has a rangefinder, and it's nice when he gives me yardages sometimes while we play, especially if it's at a course I haven't played before.

I used to play a course that typically had inaccurate markings. I was once at the 100 yard markers and someone with a rangefinder measured 130 yards to a pin in the center of the green. One of many reasons I don't play that course anymore.
I like using the non-technological way of measuring things... and then I hit it with my cavity-back irons and hybrids, so I'm not sure if that's a fair description

[Crafty]

I use a Bushnell Rangefinder during practice rounds, but only to measure bunker carries and things of that nature. Im much more confident with using a pin sheet and walking it off as opposed to a rangefinder.

[gogolfing]

i prefer course markings - makes the game fair for everyone.

Rangefinders are allowed in tournament play as long as they're not ones that give slope. That's why Bushnell has the slope version and tournament version. The tournament is allowed in competition, the slope is not, as far as I understand it.

[Big_M]

what are the rulings on using rangefinders and/or GPS? i've read variations on this site and in a UK magazine it said that rangefinders were allowed.

the above post is correct regarding rangefinders...

as to GPS... USGA allows per a local rule... not on PGA though.

[MGP]

I have a Sky Caddie SG3 GPS. I find it interesting how many people are against them as "unfair" or some kind of technological advantage. They are really nothing more than an electronic yardage book as they don't measure anything -- they tell you where you are standing and how far to front/center/back of the green and other points of interest on the hole (doglegs, bunkers, creeks, lakes, etc.). Same as having a caddy with a good yardage book and pin sheet. Since most courses I play don't have caddies or yardage books I don't see a problem with using a GPS that has that same information. I also don't play the same course all the time (some I may only play one time) so making a yardage book for myself is not a possibility. I like that I can download an accurate course map quickly and easily and don't mind paying a small subscription fee to do so. I look at is as the same thing as buying a yardage book at courses that actually still have them.

Are you guys that think you should just go by course markers also opposed to caddies, yardage books and pin sheets?

I could kind of see being opposed to rangefinders as they measure the actual distance to an object (very accurately I might add). Still, a good yardage book and pin sheet will get you within a yard or two as well and they've been used in the game for decades.

One other thing, my GPS has improved my speed of play considerably. No more trying to find some kind of marker and pacing off distance -- I simply look at the GPS as I have arrived at my ball, take any prevaling course conditions into account, pick my club and hit the shot. This can save a good amount of time over a typical 18 hole round. It saves even more time when off the beaten path of the fairway.

[RX Phoenix]

I use the Sky Caddie SG2, and the reaction of other players has been mixed. Some make snide comments like, "does it hit the ball too?", but later on in the round they end up checking with me out of curiousity to see it it matches the yardage they calculated. Others say, "My wife has to get me one of those!"

It is an advantage especially calculating distance to the pin with deep greens, but tournaments allow it to be used, it's similar to using a caddie but not nearly as helpful.

Big assist is that it saves a lot of time, helps older people not feel so rushed to pace off yardages, and greatly helps when you're far away from any yardage markers. No one complains about carts with GPS.

BTW it doesn't hit the ball for you . . . not yet anyway!

[Big_M]

I have a Sky Caddie SG3 GPS. I find it interesting how many people are against them as "unfair" or some kind of technological advantage. They are really nothing more than an electronic yardage book as they don't measure anything -- they tell you where you are standing and how far to front/center/back of the green and other points of interest on the hole (doglegs, bunkers, creeks, lakes, etc.). Same as having a caddy with a good yardage book and pin sheet. Since most courses I play don't have caddies or yardage books I don't see a problem with using a GPS that has that same information. I also don't play the same course all the time (some I may only play one time) so making a yardage book for myself is not a possibility. I like that I can download an accurate course map quickly and easily and don't mind paying a small subscription fee to do so. I look at is as the same thing as buying a yardage book at courses that actually still have them.

absolutely 100% agree... don't understand people who say they are unfair or otherwise. They definately DO speed up play too. And, as you said, makes playing a new course 1,000 times more enjoyable.

I can't wait to make an extremely accurate yardage book on how far I hit my new clubs.

[hawkeye]

anyone know the R&A; ruling on these devices?

just googled it - interesting article: http://www.golftoday.co.uk/news/year...ight_lies.html

What keeps the USGA from pushing harder for rangefinders is its harmonious relationship with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which sets the rules everywhere else in the world. The next time the rules can be changed is 2008, but the R&A; is in no hurry to adopt an electronic yardage book. "I think many people in the UK are opposed to these devices," R&A; secretary Peter Dawson said. "These items are much more prevalent in the U.S., despite the fact they are against the Rules of Golf. It's remarkable they are allowed for handicapping purposes." Told that the Tight Lies Tour was going to use the SkyGolf GPS rangefinder next year, Dawson replied, "That staggers me. I suppose they're not going to have stroke-and-distance for going out of bounds?"

[TomS]

I say each to his/her own and if you enjoy playing with one, then that's great, but i still prefer the good old fashioned way of pacing out from markers etc :)

[Big_M]

The other side of the coin is this... as mentioned in the article...

"But the USGA is hardly frowning on the use of rangefinders."

"I don't think it's any secret that the USGA favors allowing them to be used under the rules," USGA executive director David Fay said. "My personal view is that it enables guys like me to get the type of yardage assistance that (caddie) Steve Williams is providing Tiger Woods."



Why shouldn't the average player be able to KNOW the distances to trouble spots, just as a tour player would.
Back in the day caddies paced off the entire course pre-round... now they just pick up really detailed yardage books. If I had a great yardage book given to me I wouldn't want to carry my GPS, but since many courses are poorly marked, and very few have any sort of yardage guide that gives me distance to bunkers, creeks, etc., I 'll use my GPS and it'll save me a few shots.

Nothing pisses me off worse than playing a new course that has no yardage to different spots given, and I end up driving my ball into the water, or through the fairway. Also hate when I'm playing a long par 5 and I'm 250 out or so, and have to walk all the way up to the 200 (first marking the course has), then back to my ball, jujst to get a yardage.

The R&A; has this one wrong... and the USGA is headed in the better direction... just my 2 cents

[Gapwedge]

I use the Bushnell Pinseeker. They are approved by the USGA but the USGA defers to local rule sheets and in some amateur tournaments they may not be allowed per local rules. At least that is what I have found here in Arkansas. I personally grew up stepping off from yardage markers, but have found them to be very accurate. Not only do they seek the pin distance, but can give you distances to water hazards, sand traps, front of green distance, etc. The best thing is they speed up play. I compared my Bushnell laser to my golf buddy's SkyCaddie and the distances are very, very close if not dead on. At times it has saved me a couple of strokes on pin distances per round. Nice tool to have.

[MGP]

anyone know the R&A; ruling on these devices?

Quote: What keeps the USGA from pushing harder for rangefinders is its harmonious relationship with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which sets the rules everywhere else in the world. The next time the rules can be changed is 2008, but the R&A; is in no hurry to adopt an electronic yardage book. "I think many people in the UK are opposed to these devices," R&A; secretary Peter Dawson said. "These items are much more prevalent in the U.S., despite the fact they are against the Rules of Golf. It's remarkable they are allowed for handicapping purposes." Told that the Tight Lies Tour was going to use the SkyGolf GPS rangefinder next year, Dawson replied, "That staggers me. I suppose they're not going to have stroke-and-distance for going out of bounds?"

Peter Dawson should drag his butt over to the U.S. and play a course he's never played before with no caddy or yardage book and see what he thinks then. I think one of the reasons the R&A; is so against them is that it's much much more common for courses in the UK to have caddies with lots of local knowledge. You can hardly find a caddy anymore here in the US, let alone one with local knowledge.

[Big_M]

Peter Dawson should drag his butt over to the U.S. and play a course he's never played before with no caddy or yardage book and see what he thinks then. I think one of the reasons the R&A; is so against them is that it's much much more common for courses in the UK to have caddies with lots of local knowledge. You can hardly find a caddy anymore here in the US, let alone one with local knowledge.

Couldn't agree more... Dawson should try some of our courses w/o a caddie or any knowledge of distance to hazards. I just can't understand why he has a problem with people having a YARDAGE. His comments make me mad just thinking about them...

"not going to have stroke and distance" ... what a jackass!